Former Trooper Pleads Guilty To Stealing From Fatal Crash Scene

A former state trooper accused of stealing cash and a gold chain from the victim of a fatal motorcycle crash pleaded guilty on Wednesday to third-degree larceny and tampering with evidence, according to the court clerk's office.

Aaron Huntsman, 43, was the lead investigator of the Sept. 22, 2012, crash in Fairfield that killed John Scalesse, 49, of Orange. After the crash, Scalesse's family members told police that they couldn't account for some jewelry, clothing and cash. They later found the clothing at the hospital, but the other items were missing.

Huntsman took a gold chain, valued at $5,500, and $3,700 in cash from the scene, saying he would put the items into evidence, according to an arrest warrant.

When questioned by his supervisor, Huntsman admitted to having the chain but denied any knowledge of the missing money, the warrant says. Huntsman said he left the chain in the cup holder in his police car, inside a glove, and had forgotten about it, the warrant says.

State police later found $3,700 in cash, wrapped in a rubber band, under the front passenger seat of Huntsman's car, the warrant says.

Huntsman, at the time an 18-year veteran of the state police, was arrested in November 2012 and charged with two counts of third-degree larceny, interfering with an officer and tampering with physical evidence.

He pleaded guilty on Wednesday under the Alford doctrine, which means he doesn't admit guilt but acknowledges that there is enough evidence for a conviction. Huntsman is scheduled to be sentenced in October, according to the court clerk's office.

Huntsman left the state police service in May 2013, a state police spokesman said Thursday.